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Passing game

We won with Tony Rice so maybe he can be the second coming...in all seriousness, the inaccuracy of BW and lack of separation by the WR's are a concern. As much as I love the idea of running for over 400+ yds a game last week should have shown us that it's not sustainable against good defenses. Again it's only BW's 3rd game but I definitely expected a bit more from the passing game up to this point.
 
The OP's concern is valid.

We can't run against everybody and throws need to be accurate and keep the defense honest. Otherwise, good teams will stack the box against the run and make you beat them via the passing game.
 
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The OP's concern is valid.

We can't run against everybody and throws need to be accurate and keep the defense honest. Otherwise, good teams will stack the box against the run and make you beat them via the passing game.
That, and many mistakes, cost the game against Georgia.
 
He can throw the deep ball well enough to keep D's honest. But, he needs someone to go deep.
 
They're going to need to go to some sort of spread option hybrid offense for 2017. BK's pass-happy video game, sideline fade, sideline fade, sideline fade and punt offense is not going to work.
 
To be honest, Claypool is playing more because Kelly decided he needs too, but Cam Smith was the most reliable receiver ND fielded in weeks 1 and 2. I understand that Chase has more upside but until Stepherson gets back on the field, Smith needs to be out there. He gets open.

Besides the obvious, Wimbush struggling to set his feet and pass right now, we're seeing another glaring issue... While Chip Long has given life to the running game, ND lost arguably the best WR coach in the country in Mike Denbrock. Regardless of what you may have thought of his offensive coordinating that guy could flat out coach WR's and TE's. His guys were always ready to contribute.
 
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Tha pass game is going to hurt us when we play a team like USC Stanford or anyone else that is decent that may stop our ground game. Just observing BW he tends to telegraph where he is going to throw plus the main receivers either are quitting or do not have the ability to get by a defender or we need a WR like fuller that may open up for the other guys. BW concerns me that he can't make pass plays. I hope he gets better at it
 
From all the pre season hype, I got the impression Wimbush was a pretty good passer . All the overthrows . The posts are right. St .Brown was blanketed early and Wimbush targeted his tight ends .not a great receiving corps
 
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I thought we had tall receivers but not tall enough. BW overthrows everybody. Why? Footwork? Balance? What?

We need one of our amateur armchair analysts to figure it out before next week.
 
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Sorry guys but I guess my sarcasm about Tony Rice and the 88 passing game went over like a lead balloon...yes I know he was inaccurate but the team won games and I'm just hoping for something reminiscent this year (though this defense pales in comparison to that years group).
 
To be honest, Claypool is playing more because Kelly decided he needs too, but Cam Smith was the most reliable receiver ND fielded in weeks 1 and 2. I understand that Chase has more upside but until Stepherson gets back on the field, Smith needs to be out there. He gets open.

Besides the obvious, Wimbush struggling to set his feet and pass right now, we're seeing another glaring issue... While Chip Long has given life to the running game, ND lost arguably the best WR coach in the country in Mike Denbrock. Regardless of what you may have thought of his offensive coordinating that guy could flat out coach WR's and TE's. His guys were always ready to contribute.

NM my comment about Cam Smith needing to play. Just saw Kelly's post game press conference. Badly rolled his ankle during the week and barely practiced. Likely going to be out or at least limited vs MSU as well. That's a shame. His ability to separate would be a big help to Wimbush. Claypool needs to step up in a big way now. Hopefully Stepherson is back soon. The talk was a 4 game suspension. I hope That's accurate and he's only going to miss one more.
 
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Just observing BW he tends to telegraph where he is going with it

Does anyone else remember the swing pass to the running back by the sideline? It was the biggest telegraph pass I've seen in the history of football. It was so bad that I was expecting a pump and then a long pass down field to a wide open wide receiver. But no... he watched the receiver from the snap and all the way thru his route until throwing it and then watching as the receiver was quickly bottled up..
 
I thought we had tall receivers but not tall enough. BW overthrows everybody. Why? Footwork? Balance? What?

We need one of our amateur armchair analysts to figure it out before next week.
I coach at high school level (but im still an armchair analyst though) and I was talking to our qb's coach about wimbush. He kept saying that accuracy isn't Wimbush's problem, that it was his 'touch' on the football and telegraph it better. BW keeps overthrowing the receivers by just a few feet. BW keeps trying to zip it to receivers and therefore throws the ball too tall. He kept giving examples of Drew Brees and his height. Brees doesn't fire the ball in there, but rather bc of his height or lack of it, he is able to lay the ball in there with pinpoint accuracy. He also said he's gotta quit staring down his first option too, but I think we all see that.
 
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We miss Denbrock. Said that before. And it is clear the WRs aren't getting open... Kelly needs to get more involved in the offense (especially the passing game, the guy is a good o-coordinator and QB coach.) I like the running game and we should beat the weaker teams with that. But we will need the passing game vs. the top teams.

2-1. Next week is a big one.
 
I think we just need to relax and let the natural growth take place with BW. Those who enjoy the three yards and a cloud of dust enjoy, because you finally got your wish. Those like me enjoy a balanced offense; they will happen sometime later this year. I hope so anyways?
 
Funny now the ground and pound guys want to see ND throw the ball more effectively now and see BK more involved in the offense.

When ND was passing all over the place they wanted ND to run the ball and have BK back away from the offense.

How about you just admit you do not know what you want and have no clue what your looking at? It would save a lot of time and useless posts.
 
Brandon's problem isn't that he's incapable of making throws, he actually reminds me so much of a young, right handed, Michael Vick, both in the way he runs and passes. Brandon's problem is that he has such a strong arm that he forgets or forgos his passing mechanics at times and tries to make every throw with his arm. That just isn't possible. Even for a guy like Aaron Rodgers. Brandon needs to slow down a little bit, not takeoff running with happy feet the second his primary receiver isn't open and he needs to trust his mechanics. I don't think he'll ever be a great deep ball thrower in terms of touch and accuracy, but I think he'll improve on short and intermediate throws as the season continues.

What I would like to see the coaches do is put him in a couple more max protection type situations in order to give him time to set his feet and be confident in his pocket. He has a tendency to drift. Vick had the same. When you are that type of athlete and you can simy out run everyone on the field, that clock in your head goes fast than it should while sitting in the pocket because you know you can make a play with your legs.
 
Winbush is the problem not the receivers
No doubt Wimbush's accuracy needs to improve, and i'm going partly blame the coaches for that. But in some defense to Wimbush there have been dropped passes. Three in the Georgia game that were game changers that could have won that game for us. Hopefully we'll see improvement from him soon. I still believe in the kid.
 
The issues wimbush is dealing with in the passing game are very correctable. No reason to think he won t improve. Far from a finished product but who realistically expected him to be in 3 games ?
 
Brandon's problem isn't that he's incapable of making throws, he actually reminds me so much of a young, right handed, Michael Vick, both in the way he runs and passes. Brandon's problem is that he has such a strong arm that he forgets or forgos his passing mechanics at times and tries to make every throw with his arm. That just isn't possible. Even for a guy like Aaron Rodgers. Brandon needs to slow down a little bit, not takeoff running with happy feet the second his primary receiver isn't open and he needs to trust his mechanics. I don't think he'll ever be a great deep ball thrower in terms of touch and accuracy, but I think he'll improve on short and intermediate throws as the season continues.

What I would like to see the coaches do is put him in a couple more max protection type situations in order to give him time to set his feet and be confident in his pocket. He has a tendency to drift. Vick had the same. When you are that type of athlete and you can simy out run everyone on the field, that clock in your head goes fast than it should while sitting in the pocket because you know you can make a play with your legs.
Well said. I would give him some simple throws early in games to help his feel and rhythm. The skill set is there, now it needs refined. The farther you go up the ladder the less you can get away with just utilizing superior physical ability.
 
Does anyone else remember the swing pass to the running back by the sideline? It was the biggest telegraph pass I've seen in the history of football. It was so bad that I was expecting a pump and then a long pass down field to a wide open wide receiver. But no... he watched the receiver from the snap and all the way thru his route until throwing it and then watching as the receiver was quickly bottled up..

There were other plays but that was the one that got me. I am not saying we should start Book but Wimbush is definitely a work in progress as a QB. BW is such an outstanding athlete . Where the Irish will get beat is by teams that can stop our run like Georgia. Also, WB by the way he passes especially telegraphing these throws we may be in a situation where we get blown out by someone we should not even lose. On the other hand WB can take over a game with his legs.
 
Well said. I would give him some simple throws early in games to help his feel and rhythm. The skill set is there, now it needs refined. The farther you go up the ladder the less you can get away with just utilizing superior physical ability.

Agreed. With young quarterbacks I like half field reads, and a lot of stop routes, hooks, slants and other 1 step (out of shotgun) throws. Rocker step, ball out. We need to be able to get Finke in space as well with Mack / Smythe and Claypool blocking for him. Simple search routes, swing passes and maybe a tunnel screen. I think the passing game will progress as the peel back the playbook. There are clearly things Brandon struggles with. I like him in play action though, particularly with boot action because the entire backside of the defense has to stay home.
 
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They're going to need to go to some sort of spread option hybrid offense for 2017. BK's pass-happy video game, sideline fade, sideline fade, sideline fade and punt offense is not going to work.

Huh? It isn't BK calling the offense - its Long. Just the default to always slam BK.
 
We miss Denbrock. Said that before. And it is clear the WRs aren't getting open... Kelly needs to get more involved in the offense (especially the passing game, the guy is a good o-coordinator and QB coach.) I like the running game and we should beat the weaker teams with that. But we will need the passing game vs. the top teams.

2-1. Next week is a big one.

Agreed - and yet you see posters in this very thread "blaming BK's pass happy offense" - say what? BK is trying to let his coaches coach. The D is improvIng and the run game is there. BW getting experience and hasn't played for three years, so he'll get there and I do think BK will work with Long to tweak/enhance the passing game.
 
Funny now the ground and pound guys want to see ND throw the ball more effectively now and see BK more involved in the offense.

When ND was passing all over the place they wanted ND to run the ball and have BK back away from the offense.

How about you just admit you do not know what you want and have no clue what your looking at? It would save a lot of time and useless posts.


I think you are particularly dense. Nobody has called for ND to simply run between the tackles. Everyone recognizes the need to pass. But people have pointed out that under Kelly, our finesse offense does not develop a rhythm and usually abandons the run way too easily, thus losing the chance of wearing the opponent down in the fourth quarter. To this point, the team has been able to run against second rate defenses, but not against a good defense. It has not been able to pass against anyone, and that is a problem.
 
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